Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Coated or impregnated woven – knit – or nonwoven fabric which... – Coating or impregnation functions biologically
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-09
2001-03-27
Copenheaver, Blaine (Department: 1771)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which...
Coating or impregnation functions biologically
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207596
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to disposable premoistened wipes, and more particularly to disposable premoistened wipes which include an antimicrobial protease inhibitor effective at inhibiting deleterious fecal microorganisms and inhibiting protease enzymes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Premoistened wipes are well known in the art. Such wipes are also referred to as “wet wipes”, “baby wipes” and “towelettes”. Premoistened wipes include a nonwoven fibrous substrate which is wetted with a liquid prior to use. The substrate may include various combinations of cellulosic fibers, synthetic polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, and the like. The substrate may also include binders to hold the fibers together. The substrate is generally moistened with a liquid such as water. The liquid may include various other ingredients such as moistening agents or humectants, emollients, surfactants, emulsifiers, pH-adjusting agents, fragrances, powders, and the like.
Such premoistened wipes are commonly used to remove fecal matter and urine from the perineal area. Fecal matter and urine lead to perineal dermatitis. Perineal dermatitis, which includes diaper dermatitis, has been defined as contact dermatitis in the perineal area, including the perineum, buttocks, and the perineal, coccyx, and upper/inner thigh regions (Brown D. S., Serars M., Perineal Dermatitis: A Conceptual Framework, Ostomy/Wound Management 1993, 39 (7), 20-25). Diaper dermatitis is believed to be caused by the prolonged contact of the skin with body waste. The physical signs of diaper dermatitis may include one or a combination of erythema, swelling, oozing, visiculation, crusting, and scaling, with the possibility of excoriation, thickening, and hyperpigmentation over time (Brown).
The exact component or components of urine and feces responsible for diaper dermatitis has not been identified. Factors which have been suspected of causing diaper dermatitis include ammonia, moisture, urine pH, fecal microorganisms, and protease enzymes (such as those contained in fecal matter).
It is desirable to provide a premoistened disposable wipe that cleans and leaves behind a residue on the skin which inhibits the formation of diaper dermatitis.
It is also desirable to provide a premoistened disposable wipe which includes a single active agent capable of inhibiting the formation of diaper dermatitis by controlling both deleterious fecal microorganisms and protease enzymes.
One benefit of the present invention is the ability to inhibit formation of diaper dermatitis by utilizing a premoistened wipe containing an antimicrobial protease inhibitor. The antimicrobial protease inhibitor is capable of controlling deleterious fecal microorganisms and protease enzymes both of which are thought to be major contributors to the formation of diaper dermatitis.
A further benefit of the present invention is the ability of the premoistened wipe to both clean the skin and leave behind a residue of the antimicrobial protease inhibitor. Thus, inhibition of deleterious fecal microorganisms and protease enzymes continues even after the premoistened wipe is no longer in contact with the skin.
Prophetically, another benefit of the present invention is the ability to provide a regimen for maintaining or improving skin health utilizing the premoistened disposable wipe of this invention in conjunction with a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a premoistened wipe capable of inhibiting deleterious fecal microorganisms and inhibiting protease enzymes. In one embodiment the premoistened wipe comprises a nonwoven fibrous substrate which includes from about 0.004% to 10% antimicrobial protease inhibitor by weight of dry fiber in the substrate and from about 0.5 grams to 8 grams of liquid per gram of dry fiber in the substrate.
The antimicrobial protease inhibitor exhibits an IC
50
on purified trypsin of less than about 1000 &mgr;M and a minimum inhibitory concentration for
Escherichia coli
of less than about 1000 &mgr;M.
The antimicrobial protease inhibitor is an aromatic diamidine selected from the group consisting of:
wherein X is H or OH, and
wherein n=3 to 12 and X is Cl, I, Br, F, or H.
The aromatic diamidine may be selected from the group consisting of pentamidine and hexamidine. A preferred hexamidine is hexamidine diisethionate. The aromatic diamidine may also be added directly to the substrate and or to the liquid.
When added to the liquid, the antimicrobial protease inhibitor comprises about 0.0005% to 10% of the liquid by weight. A solvent comprises about 50% of the liquid by weight. The solvent is selected from the group consisting of oil, alcohol, water, and mixtures thereof.
The liquid may also optionally include: one or more humectants comprising from about 0.5% to 10% of the liquid by weight; one or more emollients comprising from about 0.1% to 10% of the liquid by weight; one or more surfactants comprising from about 0.01% to 10% of the liquid by weight; and one or more preservatives comprising from about 0.01% to 1% of the liquid by weight.
The present invention also includes a skin care regimen for improving or maintaining the skin health of wearers of disposable absorbent articles in the wearer-contacting area, the skin care regiment comprises the steps of:
a) providing a premoistened wipe comprising a nonwoven fibrous substrate, the substrate including from about 0.5 grams to 8 grams of liquid per gram of dry fiber, the liquid further comprising:
i) a solvent wherein the solvent comprises at least about 50% of the liquid by weight, the solvent selected from the group consisting of oil, alcohol, water, and mixtures thereof; and
ii) at least one antimicrobial protease inhibitor comprising from about 0.0005% to 10% of the liquid by weight;
b) wiping the wearer-contacting area of the skin with the premoistened wipe such that the antimicrobial protease inhibitor is transferred to the skin;
c) contacting the skin with a disposable absorbent article; and
d) repeating steps a) through c).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The premoistened wipe of the present invention comprises a substrate, an antimicrobial protease inhibitor, and a liquid. The antimicrobial protease inhibitor is capable of killing deleterious fecal microorganisms and inhibiting protease enzymes. As used herein, “premoistened” refers to the addition of a liquid to the substrate prior to use. The term “liquid” includes any material having a liquid phase, including but not limited to emulsions having a liquid phase. The substrate may be premoistened with liquid during manufacture or it may be premoistened with liquid after manufacture (e.g.; by the user at point of use).
The antimicrobial protease inhibitor may be added directly to the substrate or preferably mixed with the liquid. Alternatively, if desired the antimicrobial protease inhibitor may be added to the substrate both separately and as a component of the liquid. The preferred embodiment liquid includes an antimicrobial protease inhibitor capable of killing deleterious fecal microorganisms and inhibiting protease enzymes.
The Substrate
Referring to the components of the present invention in more detail, the premoistened wipe of the present invention includes a substrate comprising woven or nonwoven natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or mixtures thereof. Suitable synthetic fibers include fibers commonly used in textiles, such as but not limited to polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene fibers.
Various methods can be used to form a suitable substrate for use in the present invention. Suitable methods for forming the substrate include but are not limited to spunbonding, meltblowing, carding, wet laying, and airlaying. Suitable techniques for binding the fibers of the substrate together include but are not limited to hydroentangling, needle punching, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and preferably chemical bonding.
Chemical bonding tends to be more economically favorable than other fiber bindin
Osborne Scott Edward
Richards Marc Frederic
Rourke Francis James
Copenheaver Blaine
Glazer Julia A.
Rosnell Tara M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Torres Norca L.
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